29.10.08

We have our annual Halloween party on Saturday. I haven't had time to do anything yet for the party. I've been so busy studying. Today I should plan the menu. The outfit I already have and yesterday I got some accessories from my mom. I hope I look tacky enough.

Yesterday my mom left to Spain. She is going to be there for a while now. She comes back the same day we will leave to our honeymoon. Chris' parents are leaving today to England to babysit the dog Bruno while Estelle, Matt and Stella are in Canada. So at the moment we have all three of our furballs here with us. It is again quite a circus. I don't know what we are doing with the cats on Saturday. They might not be comfortable here when the house is full of loud party people. Maybe we have to take them to my moms for few hours.

19.10.08

I just got home from Chris' parents. We had sauna and dinner there. It was very relaxing. Today I have been doing some studying and that's all. It has been a one rainy day again. I guess this is what it's gonna be like the coming months. I'm so happy that we have sunny and warm days a head of us in South East Asia in just a couple of months. Next week is going to be a busy week for me, lot of studying to do.

18.10.08

17.10.08

I've not felt this tired in a long time. Today I had to get up at 6.30. For some people that is something they do every morning. For me it happens rarely these days. I usually get up only at nine or so and I really enjoy that. I'm not a morning person.

Today I had to be at school very early. After the lecture I spend over an hour in two libraries and at 11.30 I met Miina and little Kalle in downtown. We ate lunch, went to different stores, drank cappuccino/tea and went to more stores. We left to go home only closer to 5 pm. After that I went to sauna with Chris.

So I had a long day and that is why I'm this tired. I think one reason might also be that I'm not quite over the flu yet.

Today I found out that I'm supposed to read one book during my "holiday" week. It seems now that I have to study more next week than ever. That's no holiday. I also wonder why the teacher didn't tell us earlier about the book. To be able to read it I have to get it. There are non left in libraries, so I have to buy it, obviously tomorrow then. This course starts only after next week. It is an elective course in work psychology. This weekend I should do some other school projects and I'm not that motivated about them.

16.10.08

It has been a grey and depressing day. I have been just studying. Next week is actually a holiday week but I have the first exam on Asian Business on Wednesday, if I'm ready to take it. I still haven't read to whole book. I have few days time to do that.

I'm actually seeing Miina tomorrow after school. I have lessons at 8.30 am and after that I'm heading to library for a while. We are supposed to meet in Kamppi. I haven't been anywhere in a whole week. Now I'm feeling much better and the flu is going away.

Almost half the world — over three billion people — live on less than $2.50 a day.

At least 80% of humanity lives on less than $10 a day.

More than 80 percent of the world’s population lives in countries where income differentials are widening.

The poorest 40 percent of the world’s population accounts for 5 percent of global income. The richest 20 percent accounts for three-quarters of world income.

According to UNICEF, 26,500-30,000 children die each day due to poverty. And they “die quietly in some of the poorest villages on earth, far removed from the scrutiny and the conscience of the world. Being meek and weak in life makes these dying multitudes even more invisible in death.”

Around 27-28 percent of all children in developing countries are estimated to be underweight or stunted. The two regions that account for the bulk of the deficit are South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

If current trends continue, the Millennium Development Goals target of halving the proportion of underweight children will be missed by 30 million children, largely because of slow progress in Southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

Based on enrolment data, about 72 million children of primary school age in the developing world were not in school in 2005; 57 per cent of them were girls. And these are regarded as optimisitic numbers.

Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names.

Less than one per cent of what the world spent every year on weapons was needed to put every child into school by the year 2000 and yet it didn’t happen.

Infectious diseases continue to blight the lives of the poor across the world. An estimated 40 million people are living with HIV/AIDS, with 3 million deaths in 2004. Every year there are 350–500 million cases of malaria, with 1 million fatalities: Africa accounts for 90 percent of malarial deaths and African children account for over 80 percent of malaria victims worldwide.

Water problems affect half of humanity:

Some 1.1 billion people in developing countries have inadequate access to water, and 2.6 billion lack basic sanitation.Almost two in three people lacking access to clean water survive on less than $2 a day, with one in three living on less than $1 a day.

More than 660 million people without sanitation live on less than $2 a day, and more than 385 million on less than $1 a day.Access to piped water into the household averages about 85% for the wealthiest 20% of the population, compared with 25% for the poorest 20%.

1.8 billion people who have access to a water source within 1 kilometre, but not in their house or yard, consume around 20 litres per day. In the United Kingdom the average person uses more than 50 litres of water a day flushing toilets (where average daily water usage is about 150 liters a day. The highest average water use in the world is in the US, at 600 liters day.)Some 1.8 million child deaths each year as a result of diarrhea

The loss of 443 million school days each year from water-related illness.

Close to half of all people in developing countries suffering at any given time from a health problem caused by water and sanitation deficits.

Millions of women spending several hours a day collecting water.

To these human costs can be added the massive economic waste associated with the water and sanitation deficit.…

The costs associated with health spending, productivity losses and labour diversion are greatest in some of the poorest countries. Sub-Saharan Africa loses about 5% of GDP, or some $28.4 billion annually, a figure that exceeds total aid flows and debt relief to the region in 2003.

Number of children in the world 2.2 billion

Number in poverty 1 billion (every second child)

Shelter, safe water and health

For the 1.9 billion children from the developing world, there are:

640 million without adequate shelter (1 in 3)

400 million with no access to safe water (1 in 5)

270 million with no access to health services (1 in 7)

Children out of education worldwide 121 million

Survival for children Worldwide, 10.6 million died in 2003 before they reached the age of 5 (same as children population in France, Germany, Greece and Italy)

1.4 million die each year from lack of access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation

Health of children

Worldwide, 2.2 million children die each year because they are not immunized15 million children orphaned due to HIV/AIDS (similar to the total children population in Germany or United Kingdom)

Rural areas account for three in every four people living on less than US$1 a day and a similar share of the world population suffering from malnutrition. However, urbanization is not synonymous with human progress. Urban slum growth is outpacing urban growth by a wide margin.

Approximately half the world’s population now live in cities and towns. In 2005, one out of three urban dwellers (approximately 1 billion people) was living in slum conditions.

In developing countries some 2.5 billion people are forced to rely on biomass—fuelwood, charcoal and animal dung—to meet their energy needs for cooking. In sub-Saharan Africa, over 80 percent of the population depends on traditional biomass for cooking, as do over half of the populations of India and China.

Indoor air pollution resulting from the use of solid fuels [by poorer segments of society] is a major killer. It claims the lives of 1.5 million people each year, more than half of them below the age of five: that is 4000 deaths a day. To put this number in context, it exceeds total deaths from malaria and rivals the number of deaths from tuberculosis.

In 2005, the wealthiest 20% of the world accounted for 76.6% of total private consumption. The poorest fifth just 1.5%:

Almost all of the deaths from hunger and disease that you see on this site http://www.poverty.com/ can be stopped. The cost to do this is about $195 billion a year, according to the United Nations. Twenty-two developed countries below have pledged to work towards each giving 0.7% (a little less than 1%) of their national income in international aid, which would raise the $195 billion. Some countries are slow to meet their pledge.

14.10.08

Tonight is actually full moon, only my nail polish is called moonless night. I bought it few weeks ago from H&M and now I'm trying it out. I have lots of nail polishes.

As the days get shorter and the nights longer I like to use darker colors.

As you can see I'm already in my pyjamas and ready to go to bed. I'm not feeling any better. I didn't go to school this evening, but I did watch video lectures at home today. I hope I'm getting better soon.

I got the flu and the tea did not help too much. Today I need to study and in the evening I have lectures. Luckily on Wednesday I don't have lectures.

I just got an email saying that the second part of the Intensive Chinese Business Course is cancelled. The professor wasn't able to come from Beijing. I can now choose to do an assignments or exam based on two books or attend next year to a course held in Malmi. The course is pretty inconvenient for me. I'm not sure yet if I'm having another course at that time and I'm not too willing to travel to another side of the town either. So I probably choose either the assignment or the exam.

It will be only two and a half weeks to our Halloween party. I have my costume ready and waiting in the closet. Quite many people have said they will be coming.

Join millions worldwide to STAND UP and TAKE ACTION against Poverty and for the Millennium Development Goals.

Last year, over 43 million people Stood Up to demand that world leaders keep their promises to end poverty and inequality . This year, help us break that record and send an even louder message to our governments.

Join the global movement of people who refuse to stay seated or silent in the face of poverty and broken promises to end it!

STAND UP and TAKE ACTION against Poverty and for the Millennium Development Goals.

Why Stand Up?

In 2000, leaders of 189 countries signed the Millennium Declaration agreeing to do everything in their power to end poverty. They pledged to do this by achieving the Millennium Development Goals, a roadmap to end extreme poverty by 2015.

Still, every day, 50,000 people die as a result of extreme poverty and the gap between rich and poor people is increasing. Nearly half the world’s population live in poverty, 70% are women. We have the power to change this.

Campaigners worldwide will STAND UP and TAKE ACTION to push their governments for more and better aid, debt cancellation, education for all boys and girls, healthcare, trade justice, gender equality and public accountability.

It feels like I'm getting a flu. Chris has had it for almost a week so it's no wonder that I'm also getting it also.

There is supposed to be a photo exhibition today from Chris' friend in downtown. Feeling like I do right no I doubt that I'm able to go there.

Yesterday was a really nice day. It was quite warm and sunny. We had a walk around a lake in Kauniainen. Here are some photos from yesterday.

I just made myself a cup of tea. It is supposed to make me feel a bit better. I think today I'm not going to study that much. Maybe I spend a while here in our bed with my two little hairballs and see if I start to feel better.

This four-footed muse brings the gifts of creativity, inspiration, and the ability to think outside the cat box! Place him on your desk or computer and purr-fect ideas will abound. Your work will be me-wow!

Kreative Kitty story is included on packaging!

COCKTAIL BLACK CAT DRINK HANGERS

Perfect for your Party Punch Glasses!Slightly spooky and very cute, these 1-1/2" (3.8 cm) tall, plastic Black Cat Cocktail Buddies will add an extra layer of cool to any cocktail party. Their long black tails act as a hook over the rim of the glass as they dangle on the side just daring anyone else to touch your drink.

CAT BUTTS MAGNETS

Cat butts for everyone!Everyone loves Cat Butts! For true cat lovers. 5 popular breeds with a bonus hair ball! Works great on the fridge, car, and other metal surfaces.

IT'S MY CAT'S WORLD MUG

BLACK CAT BANDAGES

Me... ouch!Treat your minor cuts, scrapes and scratches with the incredible healing power of a Black Cat designer bandage. And if a cool bandage isn't enough to dry up your tears, how about a FREE TOY!

Includes a small toy to help make even the ouchiest owies feel all better in no time!

CAT HAIR BOWL

Finally! The secret ingredient is revealed! If "everything tastes better with cat hair in it," as this bowl proudly proclaims, then the pretty kitty at the bottom will make everything you prepare turn out just purrfect!

CAT SHOULDER BAG

The fashion statement of the decade! The only thing better than a cat is two! Top quality YKK zipper and comfy fat strap!

CONTROL A CAT REMOTE

Stop all that hissing, scratching and unpredictable attacking. Select a low purr-tone and an affectionate mood! 8 out of 10 owners said their cats ignored it.

Operating Instructions:

Point remote at subjectPush any button on the remoteHope for the bestNo batteries required... powered by positive thinking!

CLOTH-CAT TOWEL HOLDER

Me-oooooooooow!Our Cat-Cloth Towel Holder will bring a smile to your face every time you go to dry your hands. Once you get over the awkwardness of what you have just seen... you'll begin to see a fun, kitschy, innocent 1950's-ness towel holder you've just got to get! Kinda gross, but kinda cute and definitely kinda cool. And, because this is the Perpetual Kid, kinda functional and very well executed too.